Georgian NGOs demand to admit ISFED to work on electoral reforms

Four non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have suspended their participation in all the working groups created on the initiative of the "Georgian Dream" Party. They demanded that the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) be allowed to take part in the work on electoral reforms.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 23, the Council of the European Union (EU) announced that it would grant Georgia the status of a candidate for EU membership "as soon as the outlined priorities are fulfilled." The EU pointed to the absence of the freedom of media in the country; persecutions of sexual minorities; shortcomings in the conduct of elections, and flaws in the judicial system. Oppositionists have noted that under the rule of the "Georgian Dream" it would not be possible to achieve the European integration.

The Freedom of Information Development Institute, the Democracy Research Institute (DRI), the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association and the Centre for Social Justice have stated that the ruling "Georgian Dream" Party refused to attract the (ISFED) to the working groups on elections.

According to the "Georgia-Online", the above four NGOs have treated the decision of the "Georgian Dream" as unfair.